Yarn-carrier-controlling means for knitting machines



Sept. 28 1926.

D. J. WERFELMAN ET AL YARN CARRIER CONTROLLING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 anus M 6015 Sept. 28 1926.

1,601,545 D. J. WERFELMAN ET AL Y YARN CARRIERCONTROLLING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3 SheetsSheet 2 L r. W M

AWE

Sept. 28,1926. 1,601,545

D. J. WERFELMAN ET AL YARN CARRIER CONTROLLING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-She awwemto'co patented gent. 28, 926.

STATES PATENT OFFEGE.

DIE-TRICK J. WE RFELMAN D ANTON STEELE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORE T BURIED MACHINERYEOMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW.YORK.

YARN (MLRRIER-(MINTROLLING: MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHIN'EE.

Application filed January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,966.

The subject-matter of this application is contained in the application Serial Nor 712,271,fi1ed by Dietrick l Vverfelman alone on May 10, 1924.

, This invention relates to straight knitting machines and more particularly to yarn carrier controlling mechanism. With ordinary knitting machines,'ordinary plaited vertical stripes are produced by moving in conjunction with the ground color yarn can rier, one or more auxiliary yarn carriers operating over a desired number of needles to make a plain vertical stripe, the width of the vertical stripe being determinedby the distance at which stop blocks for the production ofsaid vertical stripes are set apart from each other. lVith the hitherto used construction, these stop blocks are fastened rby pins or by, friction clamps to the yarn 2 carrier guide'or bar itself and they thus re main stationary during the course of knitting, as a result of which just plain vertical stripes ar produced in the work.

Theobject of our invention is to provide 5 improved means, whereby a great variety of designs, such as plaited angular designs or patterns can be produced.

1 Another object of this invention is to so construct said means, that the change from one pattern to another may be effected in the simplest possible manner.

A.v further object is to provide means whereby the stop blockswill be caused to automatically and periodically change their positions relative to themselves and to the yarn carrier to enlarge or reduce the path of travel of the yarn carrier according to I the design desired.

And still another object is to provide a comparatively simple construction of said means, which can be easily and readily applied to any existing machine without materially changing the general construction of the machine itself.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and delined in the appended claims.

In the accompanyin drawings in which some embodiments 0 our invention are shown, F ig; l is a front elevation of a knit- Fig. 2 a cross section through the rear yarn carrier bars; Fig. 3 a section on line 33 of Fig.2; Fig. d a detail section on line H of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 aplan view of our improved stop blocks; Fig. 6 a plan view of the worm spindles and means for operating the same; Fig. 7 an end elevation of same;

Fig. 8 a longitudinal section on line 88 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 a rear elevation of the rocking mechanism operating the coupling shaft and Fig. 11 shows two of the many possible designs produced by our improved machine.

' p In the drawing, a denotes the frame of the machine, having the usual oppositely inclined needle beds-,(not shown) in which rows of successively operated independent needles are arranged transversely of and at opposite sides of the path of travel of yarn carriers 22. Guided in the frame to slide usual carriage 0 (Figs. 2 and 8), which is provided with the usual plungers d adapted,

in well known manner to operate the yarn carriers 6. The carriage is operated by means of a driver crank e, which, in well known manner, is connected to the carriage by a connecting rod 7 (Fig. 1). Oscillation of the driver crank 6 produces the reciprocating movement of the carriage 0 over and along the needle beds in consequence of which the yarn carriers are moved to and fro in the manner described.

The structure thus far described is well known in the art and forms no part of our invention.

The novel mechanism for controlling the movement of the yarn carriers, so as to enable the production of different kinds of patterns, such as work with checkered patterns, bias stripes, 'zig-zag stripes or the like, consists in the following In the rear top yarn carrier bar 10 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) and the rear bottom yarn carrier bar are milled two'parallel grooves in each 10 10 extending throughout the length thereof and slidably mounted in said grooves are metal strips or bars 11, 12 each provided with a longitudinal row of notches, bores or perforations'1-3 arranged in proximity to one another. There are thus two pairs of such slidable bars, one on the upper and one on the lower yarn carrier bar 10.

thereby of rocking said arm 32.

Intermediate these slidable bars on top and bottom, we provide a bar 15 also formed with a longitudinal row of notches, bores or perforations 16, but fixed to the frame, as at 15 '(Fig. 6). The two inwardly directed sliding bars 11 and the two outwardly directed sliding bars 12 are joined in pairs by guiding sleeves 17, 17, which are internally threaded forming nuts. I These two nuts work on two parallel worm spindles 18, 19 extending longitudinallyof the machine and journalled at 20 in the frame. The spindles are adapted to be intermittently rotated by the following mechanism:

Extending transversely ofthe machine, is a rock spindle 21 (Fig. 7) rotatively supported in bearings 22 and composed longitudinally of two sections 21, 21 joined to gether by a coupling sleeve 21 (Fig. 8). This rock spindle carries three bevel gears 23, 24, 25, the'gears 24 and 25 being fixed to the sleeve 21 and the gear 23 to section 21 of said spindle.

d On the inner end of the worm spindles 18, 19 are bevel gears 26, 27 of which gear 26 is adapted to constantly mesh with the gear 23 and gear 27 may mesh with either one. of the two gear's 24, 25. By pulling the section 21 forwardly, the gear 24 will be brought to mesh with the gear 27 and by pushing it inwardly, the gear 25 will be brought to mesh with the gear 27. To lock the coupling in its adjusted position, i. c. with the gear 24 or 25 meshing with the gear 27, we

provide, according to the present example, a spring pressed ball 28 in a bore of the hear ing 22 in which section 21 is borne and we provide the latter with three annular grooves 29 into either of which the ball may drop to lock the section 21* against accidental dis lacement. When the ball 28 engages t fie intermediate groove 29,Ythe rock spindle is in neutral position 1. c. with both ears 24, 25 out of mesh with the gear 27. Vhen the ball 28 is in engagement with the outer end groove 29, the gear 25 will be in mesh with gear 27 and when it is in engagement with the inner end groove, the gear 24 will mesh with the gear 27 This spindle 21 can be rocked in one or the other direction through the medium of a ratchet wheel 30 mounted on one end thereof, and with which cooperates a pawl 31 carried by a rock lever 32. This lever 32 is adapted to be intermittently operated through the driver crank. To this end, the spindle or pivot e of said driver crank e is formed with a finger 33 and the rock lever 32 connected by a link 34 to a forked arm 35 fulcrumed at 35 to the frame and capable of eriodically engaging said finger 33 during the movement of the driver crank and The free end of the finger 33 is rounded, as at 33,

and the recess 35 of the forked arm is correspondingly shaped and the forks of the latter so curved as to form cam surfaces. During the oscillation of the driver crank, the finger 33 will be oscillated. and be caused to intermittently engage and disengage the recess or socket 35 as a result of which the arm 35 will be given a' short turn into one or the other direction, according to the direction of oscillation of the crank e.

The pawl 31 is in form of a plunger borne in a socket 32 formed at the upper end of the rock lever 32 and is actuated therein by a spring 36,-which tends to press said pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 30. The lower or inner end of said pawl is bevelled at one side forming a tooth 31 and the plunger 31 is capable not only of moving longitudinally in its socket 32 but also of being turned around it axis. The object of making the plunger turnable around its axis is to permit the adjustment of the pawl into the position necessary to transmit rotation to the ratchet in the desired direction. In the position shown in Fig. 9, for instance, when the rock lever is rocked, the tooth 31 of the plunger 31 will rotate the ratchet 30 clockwise. When the plunger is turned around its axis 180, the tooth 31will turn the ratchet anticlockwise.

For locking the pawl or bolt 31 in the adjusted positionv effected by turning it around its axis, we provide a laterally projecting flap or pin 31 thereon and diametrically opposite notches 32 in the upper edge of the socket 32 capable of engaging said pin, after the plunger has been turned into one or the other position.

To enable the adjustment of the angle of rotation to be imparted to ratchet 30 and consequently to the rock spindle 21 during each full rotation of the driver crank e, the rock lever 32 and arm 35 are slotted longi tudinally, as at 32 and 35 and the ends of the rod or link 34 are made to adjustably engage said slots, as at 34, 34

The yarn carriers 6 of which there may be as many as desired, but of which in this example only one is shown (Figs. 2 and 3) are as usual slidably mounted on the upper and lower guide-bars 10 of the frame, which they engage in the ordinary or well known manner by friction and on which they are capable of sliding longitudina ly. They are moved in the well known manner by the cam carrier or carriage 0 through the drivers or plungers (Z. plungers (l and the yarn carriersor guides is of a yielding nature, so that the ,plungers may pass beyond the yarn carriers in the continued movement of the carriage 0, while the yarn-carriers are stopped against further movement by the action of stop blocks in well known manner. The stop blocks, 37,

The engagement'between the that according to previous adpistment of said blocks, the yarn carriers wi 1 move predetermined distances and produce the. patterns desired. To this end, thepart of each.

stop block 37 which extends transversely over the guide bars 10 is provided with a bore 37 near each end.

outer face of said block 37is a plate 38 to- Mounted on the thelower face of which are fixed near the ends downwardly'projecting pins 39 adapted to movably bear in said bores or sockets 37 and around which are mounted springs 40,

'which with their upper ends bear against a shoulder or. rim 37 and which have the tendency to hold the plate tight against the block. The plate 38 is longitudinally slotted,

.' as at 38', andthe outer face of the stop block 37 is correspondingly slotted, as at 37 Slid- Y 25 ablyguide in these two slots is a pin 41 formed-with a knob 4:2. The slot 38 is narrower than the slot 37 and the pin 41 is formed with a collar 41, which is adapted to snugl fit in saidsl'ot 37 and whereby it i's-held rom falling out from the plate 38.

.It will be "seen that this construction enables the, locking of: the stop block '37 to either one of the: slide bars 11, 12or the fixed bar 15. 7 All that is necessary is to lift the pin 41 arid, therefore, the plate 38," thereby disengaging the former from a notch or perforation 13 or 16 of one bar and on shifting it along the slots38' and 37 until it is in range with a'--perfor ation of the desired 'each starting from a point must first move "The mode of other bar and then release it. The spring action'on theplate 38 will cause-'it to instantaneously engage said'ne'w notch or perforation.

. operation is as follows v Suppose it is desired to produce work with diamond shaped patterns, such as shown gin In such case, theyarn carriers 6 with progressively enlarging strokes and then progressively diminishing strokes. To effect this, the two stop blocks controlling the movement of each yarn carrier must be first loc ked to the sliding bars 11 and 12 in the aforedescribed manner and-the rock spindle 21 so adjusted that whenrocked itwill turn the worm spindle operating the slide .fltar 12 in. opposite direction to that of bar 11. This ad'ustment, as. has been described, is brought a out by shifting the section 21 gofsaid rock shaft by means of the knob inwardly and coupling gear 25 with gear 27, thereby uncoupling gear 24 from the latter. Since the gear 26 is always in mesh with the gear 23, it is necessary in order to control the direction of movement of the slide bars stops 3'7.

11, 12 to make another adjustment before starting the work. This second adjustment is-that of the direction of rocking of the spindle 21. This adjustment is accomplished through the position given to the pawl or bolt 31. For the pattern under consideration, the slides 11, 12 will have to first move outwardly from a central position. Therefore, the slide 11, which is operated through the worm spindle 18 carrying the bevel gear 26 always in mesh with the gear 23 on the rock spindle 21 will have ,to move in opposite directionto that of the carriage, which will be effected by a corresponding adjustment of the plunger 31. Owing to the previous coupling of the bevel gears 25 and 27, the

spindle 19 will be caused to turn in opposite direction to that of spindle 18 and. consequently the slide 12 will move in the direction of the carriage.

As a result thereof, the yarn carrier starting from a central point with each stroke of the carriage will be caused to travel progressively increasing distances determined by the progressive displacement of the two lVhen the widestpart of'the pattern is reached, "the pawl 31 is turned on its axis 180, so as to feed the ratchet in opposite direction. As a result thereof, while the entire operation of the machine remains the same, the slides"11,12 will'now have reversed their direction of movement, i. e. at first .they were caused to diverge from a central point, they will now converge progressively with'each stroke of the carriage and thereby progresively diminish the distances of the yarn carrier until it reaches the lower point of the pattern.

Suppose it is desired to produce the pat terns X shown in Fig. 11. The center part may be produced by a pair of yarn guides moving as described in the former example. The lateral parts of said patterns each show a straight outer edge and indented inner edges. To produce the parts, the two stop blocks for each yarn carrier for the lateral pattern will have to be adjusted as follows:

One stop block of each pair will have to be locked to the stationary'bar 15. This is accomplished by en aging the lock pin 40 with a notch or per oration 16 of the fixed bar 15. The other stop block of each pair will have to be locked to one of the slide bars, whichwith each stroke of the carriage will first approach the first named stop block until it meets it and then on changing the direction of rotation of the ratchet will progressively'move away from the same.

Suppose it is desired to produce a pattern, such as Y in Fig. 11. In this case, the stop" blocks 37 for each zig-zag stripe will have to engage with the two slides 11 or 12, as they move in the same direction and the direction of feed of the ratchet will be adjusted accordingly and in the mannerv heretofore described.

What ,we claim is 1. In a knitting machine, the combination with a movable yarn carrier, of stops cooperating therewith, and means, including stationary and slidable members capable of engaging any one of said stops, whereby the latter can be caused to automatically .and progressively more toward or away from said yarn carrier to control the movement of said yarn carrier or be held stationary.

2. In a knitting machine. the combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, of a pair of sto as cooperating with said carrier, means including stationary and slidable members capable of engaging any one of said-stops, said stationary members being adapted, when engaging said stops, to hold the same at rest, and said slidable members being capable, when engaging said stops, of progressively moving the same toward or away from said yarn carrier to control the movements of the latter, and means intervening between said actuating means and said slidable members and whereby the pair of stops may be caused to move in the same or opposite direction or either one or both of them held'stationary.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination with a'movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, of a pair of movable stops cooperating with said carrier. means for actuating said stops to control the move ments of said yarn carrier, and including slidable and stationary members, and means intervening between said actuating means and said members, whereby the pair of stops on engagement with either of said members may be caused to move in the same or opposite direction or both of them held stationary.

4;. In a knitting machine. the combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means thoreton'of a pair of movable stops cooperating with said carrier, means for actuating said stops to control the movement of said yarn carrier including stationary and slidable members capable of engaging any one of said stops, worm spindles ca-.

pable of progressively tceiiling said slidable members relative to said yarn carrier and means intervening between said actuating means and said spindles and whereby the pair of stops may be caused to move in the same or opposite direction.

5. In a knitting machine, tne combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, ot a pair of movable stops, means for actuating said stops to control the movement of said yarn carrier, said means including stationary and slidable members capable of engaging said stops, said slidable members being movable longitudinally of the machine, worm spindles feeding said slidable members and means operatively' connected to said actuating means and capable of imparting motion to both or one of said spindles in the same or opposite direction and of thereby causing said slid-es to move either in the same or opposite direction or one of said slides-to move and the other to remain stationary.

6. In a knitting machine, the combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, of a pair of movable stops cooperating with said carrier, means for actuating said stops to control the movement of said yarn carrier, said means including stationary and slidable members capable of engaging any one of said stops, worm spindles capable of progressively feeding said slidable members relative to said yarn carrier, means intervening between said aetuating means and said spindles to automatically impart rotary motion to one of said spindles or to both in the same or opposite direction and adjustable means for causing said spindles to turn in predetermined directions.

T. In a knitting machine, the combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, of a pair of movable stops cooperating with said carrier, means for actuating said stops to control the movement of said yarn carrier, said means including stationary and slidable members, said slidable members being adapted to move longitudinally ot the path of said yarn carrier, means for adjustably securing said stops to said members, worm spindles for progressively i' eeding said slidable members, means for automatically and intermittently actuating said spindles through said actuating means, so that said spindles at the end of each stroke of said yarn carrier will be turned in the same or opposite direction, or one of said spindles turned and the other remain stationary, whereby said stops will be caused to progressively move toward or away relative to one another or one of them will more and the other be held stationary.

8.'1n a knitting machine of the character described, the combination with a movable yarn carrier, of sets of slidable and station ary bars, and stop blocks for controlling the movement of said yarn carrier having each adjustable locking means capable of engaging either of said bars, so that it may be either held stationary or move together with either of ,said slidable bars.

9. In a knitting machineof the character described, the combination with a movable yarn carrier, of sets of slidable and stationary bars, worm spindles operativeiy cennected to said slidable bars to feed the latter progressively, stop blocks for controlling the -movement otsai-d yarn carrier having adustiable locking means to engage either one I of said slidable bars or a stationary bar, and

means forimparting rotary motion to both said spindles in the same or opposite direction or to only one of said spindles.

10. In a knitting machine of the character described, the combination With a movable yarn carrier, of sets of slidable and stationary bars, Worm spindles operatively connected to said slidable bars to feed the-latter progressively, stop blocks for controlling the movement of said yarn carrier having adjustable locking means. to engage either one of said slidable bars or a stationary bar and means for imparting rotary motion to said spindles, inclu'din a coupling to enable the driving of said spindles in the same or opposite direction or one of them to remain stationary.

11. In a knitting machine of the character I described, the combination With a movable yarn carrier, of sets of slidable and stationairy bars, Worm spindles operatively condescribed, the combination with a movable.

yarn carrier and actuating means therefor including a driver crank, of sets of slidable and stationary bars, worm spindles operatively connected to said slidable bars to feed the latter progressively, stop blocks for controlling the movement of said carrier having adjustable means to engage either one of said slidable bars or a stationary bar and means for imparting rotary motion to said spindles, said means including a rock spindle, gears transmitting motion from said rock spindle to one of said Worm spindles and adjustable gears for transmitting motion to the other spindle, and means for intermittently rocking said rock spindle, said means including a rocking arm operatively connected to said rock spindle, a bifurcated arm linked to said rocking arm and a finger operatively connected to said crank and adapted during the rotation of said crank to intermittently engage and disengage said bifurcated arm and thereby operate said rock arm and said rock spindle.

13. In a knitting machine of the character described, the combination with a movable yarn carrier and actuating means therefor, including a driver crank, of sets of slidable and stationary bars, Worm spindles operatively connected to said slidable 'bars to feed the latter progressively, stop blocks for cont-rolling said yarn carrier having adjustable means to engage either one of said bars and means for imparting rotary motion to said spindles, said means including a rock spindle, gears transmitting motion from said rock spindle to one of said worm spindles and adjustable gears for transmitting motion to the other spindle, and means for intermittently rocking said rock spindle, said means including a rocking arm operatively connected to said rock spindle, a bifurcated swinging socket arm'linked to said rocking arm anda finger operatively connected to said crank and adapted during the rotation of said crank to intermittently engage and disengage said bifurcated arm and thereby operate said rock arm and said rock spindle, and means for causing the said rock spindle to move in predetermined direction, said means comprising a ratchet carried by said rock spindle and an adjustable pawl carried by said rock arm.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

DIETRICK J. lVEEFELlr IAN. ANTON STRELZ. 

